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Kent Intermediate School District Joint Final Report and Recommendations Certificate of Completion and Diploma Committee Personal Curriculum Committee June 26, 2014
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Page 1: Kent Intermediate School District Joint Final Report and ...€¦ · The Certificate of Completion and Diploma Committee was convened after issuance of Michigan District and School

Kent Intermediate School District

Joint Final Report and Recommendations

Certificate of Completion and Diploma Committee

Personal Curriculum Committee

June 26, 2014

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ i

Committee Members ..................................................................................................................... ii

Introduction .................................................................................................................................. iii

Course of Study

Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1

Factors Contributing to Depressed Graduation Rates ................................................................... 1

Review of Literature and Other Resources .................................................................................... 2

Considerations for Increasing Graduation Rates ........................................................................... 3

Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 5

Personal Curriculum

Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 7

Identifying Barriers to Personal Curriculum Implementation ....................................................... 8

Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 10

Concluding Recommendations

Concluding Recommendations for Course of Study .................................................................... 13 Concluding Recommendations for Personal Curriculum ............................................................. 14

Appendices

Appendix A: IEP Samples.............................................................................................................. 15

Appendix B: Data Review for Course of Study ............................................................................. 27

Appendix C: Checklist for PC Request Under 5(K) Based on Recommended Decision Rules ...... 29

Appendix D: Considerations for Varying Forms of Secondary Education Exit Documents ......... 30

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PERSONAL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Jennifer Bailey Kirsten Myers Counselor Coordinator Executive Director Grand Rapids Public Schools Rockford Public Schools Sarah Castro Rebecca McIntyre Coordinator of Special Education Supervisor of Special Education Forest Hills Public Schools Kent ISD Charissa Chapman James Polasek Guidance Counselor Coordinator of Compliance Byron Center Public Schools Grand Rapids Public Schools Jason Maas Eric VanTreese Secondary Supervisor Coordinator of Special Education Wyoming Public Schools Kent City Community Schools

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AND DIPLOMA COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dan Brant Laura Schepperley Director of Special Education Teacher Consultant Kenowa Hills Public Schools Grand Rapids Public Schools Jason Maas Gary Walsh Secondary Supervisor Supervisor of Special Education Wyoming Public Schools Grand Rapids Public Schools Rebecca McIntyre Fred Wisniewski Supervisor of Special Education Director of Special Education Kent ISD Forest Hills Public Schools

COMMITTEE FACILITATORS Sharon LaPointe Laurie VanderPloeg Attorney Director of Special Education LaPointe & Butler, P.C. Kent ISD

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INTRODUCTION

In November of 2013, two committees were convened by Kent ISD. The first was the Certificate

of Completion and Diploma Committee, which was charged with examining and making

recommendations regarding the problem of Individual Education Program (IEP) teams over-

selecting the course of study option leading to a certificate of completion for students with

disabilities. A correlate to this problem is the under-representation of students with

disabilities1 graduating with a regular high school diploma. The second was the Personal

Curriculum Committee, which was charged with looking at the related problem of under-

utilization of personal curricula for students with disabilities.

Each committee convened a series of meetings to review contributing factors to the respective

problems under consideration and possible practices and procedures to achieve the desired

outcomes of increased personal curriculum use and higher graduation rates. By February, both

committees realized that their work was interrelated and that collaborating through a joint

committee process would result in a more thorough and integrated set of recommendations for

the field. This document reflects the final work product of the resulting joint committee.

1 As used in this document, the term “student with a disability” refers to a student eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act with a current IEP.

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COURSE OF STUDY

I. Introduction

The Certificate of Completion and Diploma Committee was convened after issuance

of Michigan District and School Accountability Score Cards in the fall of 2013. These

Scores Cards reported on certain factors identified as being key indicators of the

efficacy of public education. One of these factors was graduation rates. The target

graduation rate in Michigan for students with disabilities is 80%.

In addition to graduation rates per se, the Score Cards reported the number of

students identified as drop-outs (students with and without disabilities who leave

school prior to graduation) and “ongoing” (students with disabilities continuing to

attend school beyond the age of eighteen but who have not yet received a diploma).

When districts within Kent ISD reviewed their data, there was a common concern

about the number of students classified as “ongoing.” As a corollary to the

significant numbers of students with disabilities reported as “ongoing,” students

with disabilities were proportionately underrepresented in the overall school and

district graduation rates. The Certificate and Diploma Committee was convened to

look at the factors contributing to the depressed graduation rate for students with

disabilities and over-selection of the certificate of completion course of study

option.

II. Factors Contributing to Depressed Graduation Rates

The committee began its work in a brainstorming session. The discussion started by

pinpointing where, when and how graduation decisions are made. In Kent ISD,

districts are expected to develop an initial transition IEP for all students with

disabilities prior to the beginning of 9th grade. One purpose of this initial transition

IEP is to address the “course of study” question. Currently the IEP form prompts the

team to identify the course of study that the student will pursue, i.e., a course of

study leading to a Michigan Merit Curriculum high school diploma, or a course of

study leading to a certificate of completion. A follow-up question requires a description of how the course of study supports the student’s post-secondary vision.

The Certificate and Diploma Committee members shared concerns about the quality

of decision making on this very important course of study question. These included:

1. There is generally no notice on the IEP invitation or IEP form that a purpose

of the IEP will include the course of study determination.

2. Very little time is generally spent on answering the course of study question.

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3. There is little to no student data utilized in discussion of/answering the

course of study question.

4. The certificate of completion is often a default response, e.g., to an eligibility

label, the student’s program placement or type of state assessment, or to a

credit deficit situation, versus a more comprehensive, individualized

determination that considers the certificate of completion to be a last resort

after other supports, short of an alternative curriculum, have been

considered.

5. Staff lack important information for course of study discussions and decision

making, specifically:

a. information regarding alternative pathways to a Michigan Merit

curriculum high school diploma (personal curriculum option)

b. what a certificate of completion course of study is, and its implications

for post-secondary options, e.g., post-secondary education, training,

employment, etc.

III. Review of Literature and Other Resources

In between Certificate of Completion and Diploma Committee meetings, a review

was conducted with respect to the following:

A. Implications of IEP forms and guidance documents from the remaining 49 states

regarding “Course of Study” determinations/documentation. The results of this

survey revealed that:

1. The majority of states have multiple regular high school diploma options and

certificate options. It is the minority approach to have one diploma option

and one certificate option, such as we have on the IEP form in Michigan.

2. Many states do not use “Course of Study” as Michigan does, i.e., in the

context of selecting the exit document(s) from secondary education. Rather

they use a statement “The student plans to exit school with… (choose from

list)” and then include an annual or 4 year lay-out of the courses supporting

the exit outcome and the student’s post-secondary goals under a heading

called “Courses of Study.”

3. Some transition guidance documents embrace the concept of an ongoing

transition from preschool through high school. The relevance of these

approaches is that communication with the family regarding decision making

early in the child’s education can have a significant influence on later

pathways. In other words, discussing and planning for a possible graduation

from high school does not start at the end of eighth grade.

B. Implications of the University of Michigan study on utilization of Personal

Curriculum (PC) option. (See section below on the Personal Curriculum).

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C. Implications of a recent US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights

Investigation Report regarding a parent challenge to a Course of Study

determination:

1. Lack of staff awareness and/or knowledge of the criteria for a certificate of

completion can compromise the appropriateness of course of study

determinations.

2. Lack of staff awareness and/or knowledge of possible applicability of

Personal Curriculum options can compromise the appropriateness of course

of study determination.

3. The corrective action in this case required the district to:

a. Consider whether students with IEPs would benefit from a PC before

determining that the Course of Study should lead to a certificate. If at

any stage it is determined that a student with disabilities would not

benefit from a PC, this determination is to be documented in the

student’s educational file and communicated to the student’s

parent/guardian within 15 school days from that determination.

b. Conduct reviews of all students with disabilities placed on certificate

tracks to ensure that they are not being denied an equal opportunity

to participate in the diploma track, including

1.) Consideration of the nature and severity of the student’s disability

2.) Documentation of the reasons why certain students are not being

considered for diplomas.

c. Documentation of any services and modifications, such as PCs, to

ensure students with disabilities are being given an equal opportunity

to earn a diploma as appropriate.

d. Provide training to all district secondary school administrators,

counselors, psychologists and teachers regarding PC development for

students with disabilities.

IV. Considerations for Increasing Graduation Rates

A. Recognize that the Michigan Merit Curriculum legislation allows a district to

award two high school diploma options, i.e., the basic Michigan Merit

Curriculum diploma based on the statutory requirements alone, as well as an

expanded option based on additional and/or district credit requirements.

B. Recognize that the Personal Curriculum allows an individualized approach for

eligible students to earn the two Michigan diplomas referenced above.

While other states may list many more types of diplomas, the criteria per

diploma are fixed. In contrast, the Personal Curriculum option in Michigan

allows for individual adjustments of the otherwise fixed requirements for

Michigan’s two options.

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C. The use of the present “certificate of completion”, that is essentially a

certificate of attendance, under-describes many students’ exiting skills and

also poses the risk of lowering exit expectations once it is selected as the

outcome of the course of study. The offering of alternative certificates

highlighting academic achievement, functional performance (employability

and adaptive skills) would serve to maintain high expectations and provide a

basis for describing curriculum standards with which instruction would be

aligned.

D. Reexamine general education course design and or instructional practices to

minimize the occurrence of end of course credit deficits and the need for

post-course credit recovery, by taking the following steps:

1. Building in ongoing progress monitoring of student mastery of common

core state standards necessary for credit acquisition;

2. Re-teaching common core state standards when needed during the

course (not waiting for end of course failure), including online or

electronic learning supports as appropriate;

3. Using libraries of electronic learning assessment resources (ELARs), to

reassess student proficiency on targeted non-mastered standards after

the re-teaching described in #2;

4. Analyzing student performance data and reflecting on whether over-

reliance on a particular model of instructional support (e.g., team-

teaching, pull-out resource room, or teacher consultant) may contribute

to lower graduation rates.

5. Consider the granting of partial credits and extended time to earn full

credit.

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V. Recommendations

Key Point Recommendation(s) Rationale

MMC diplomas Offer two MMC high school diploma options: 1.MMC=Student meets MMC requirements, with or without PC 2.MMC Plus=Student meets MMC requirements with or without PC, plus any additional district requirements.

In its recent investigation of a challenged Course of Study decision regarding a Michigan student with a disability, OCR was quite critical of Michigan’s single diploma pathway to graduation. Most states offer a number of diploma and certificate options. Michigan districts can expand the diploma option by graduating students on the basis of meeting MMC credit requirements only (“basic”), and by adding a second option with additional requirements (“plus”). While other states may list more types of diplomas than Michigan, their criteria per diploma option are generally fixed. In contrast, the personal curriculum option in Michigan allows for individualized adjustments of the otherwise fixed MMC requirements.

The Certificate Option 1.Expand the certificate option to include: a. Certificate of Performance 1.Student completes vocational program and/or worksite based learning. 2.Instructor rates performance on associated vocational skill sets. 3.Instructor rates performance on related skills (e.g., attendance, social skills, following rules and directions, hygiene, self-advocacy) b. Certificate of Academic Achievement Student demonstrates a minimum proficiency on ACT

The use of the present certificate of completion that is essentially a certificate of attendance under-describes many students’ existing skills and also poses the risk of lowering exit expectations once it is selected as the outcome of the Course of Study. The offering of alternative certificates highlighting academic achievement, functional performance (employability and adaptive skills) would serve to maintain high expectations and provide a basis for describing curriculum

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Key Point Recommendation(s) Rationale

WorkKeys in academic skills of reading for information, locating information and applied mathematics c. Certificate of Participation Individualized participation and integration into the community

standards with which instruction would be aligned.

The Certificate Option 2. Survey postsecondary institutions and employers regarding the utility of the certificates documenting student functional (employability and adaptive) and/or academic competencies.

2. The survey will assist in updating the one page “Secondary Education Exit Document Considerations” (Appendix D), as well as help to introduce the new alternatives to the certificate of completion to potential end-users.

Course of Study determination Prepare for the Course of Study discussion and determination by conducting a thorough record review. See Appendix B “Data Review for Course of Study”, which incorporates by reference the supplementary form “Checklist for PC Request” (Appendix C).

This type of preparation will assist districts in complying with the OCR Investigation Report’s cue to best practice: i.e., to consider whether students with IEPs would benefit from a PC before determining that they be placed on a certificate track.

Understanding the options One pager regarding diploma/certificate options. See “Secondary Education Exit Document Considerations” (Appendix D).

Parents and students need information regarding the varying exit documents to assist them in making informed Course of Study decisions.

Notice The IEP invitation and the IEP form should be filled out in a manner to indicate that the Course of Study will be one of the purposes for the convening of the IEP team meeting.

This notice will provide an opportunity for both district staff and parents/student to prepare for, and meaningfully participate in, the Course of Study discussion and determination.

Communication By 6th grade, all parties, including parents and students, should be aware of the proficiency based graduation requirements.

The back-drop for the Course of Study determination begins long before the end of 8th grade transition IEP.

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PERSONAL CURRICULUM

I. Introduction

The work of the Personal Curriculum Committee was driven by two compelling

reports published in 2013. The first was a study requested by the Special Education

Advisory Committee (SEAC) regarding how frequently districts across the state were

issuing personal curricula, and for what purpose. The concern when the MMC

Personal Curriculum option was adopted was the risk that the provision would be

abused and overused by parents wanting to secure graduation at the expense of

academic rigor. The results of the University of Michigan study indicated the

contrary. Rather, the PC was underutilized by students with disabilities, and the two

greatest uses of the PC were for general education students seeking to substitute

“more rigorous” coursework in the core subjects for PE/Health, followed by requests

to modify Algebra 2 requirements.

Type 2011-12 2012-13

Personal Curriculum

Algebra II modifications (non-IEP)

1237 (26.02%) 911 (20.42%)

Math Modification with IEP 800 (16.83%) 776 (17.39%)

Other Modification with IEP 384 (8.08%) 248 (6.36%)

Transfer Student 38 (0.80%) 25 (0.56%)

Enrichment Modification (PE/Health)

1680 (35.34%) 1724 (38.64%)

Enrichment Modification (other)

615 (12.94%) 742 (16.63%)

Total # of modifications 4754 4462

The second report that informed the work of the Personal Curriculum Committee

was the OCR Investigation Report discussed in the prior section. Of particular note

for the Personal Curriculum Committee was OCR’s central message in the

Investigation Report regarding the obligation of school districts to provide an equal

opportunity for all students, including students with disabilities, “to participate in

the district’s diploma track program and to graduate with a district diploma.” While

OCR does not equate the provision of an “equal opportunity to participate” with a

per se right to a diploma, this equal opportunity would require an individualized

consideration whether students with disabilities would benefit from a Personal

Curriculum before determining whether they would be placed on a certificate track.

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II. Identifying the Barriers to Personal Curriculum Implementation

During the initial meeting of the Personal Curriculum Committee the members

explored the barriers to district implementation of the MMC PC option. For most

districts the thrust of MMC implementation was converting to an instructional

delivery system predicated on all students being afforded the rigor of a curriculum

preparing them for postsecondary education at the college level. This meant

increasing the number of college prep classes and finding highly qualified teachers to

teach them.

Initially PCs had to be requested by the student’s parent/guardian and or by the age

of majority or emancipated minor student. Because the trigger was external to the

school, there was some temptation to “under-advertise” the PC option. There was

also an initial mistaken perception that districts actually had the right to choose

whether they would participate in the PC process.

To the extent that districts formally prepared to engage in PC implementation, such

preparations often consisted primarily of PC form development, without a

coordinated plan for actual implementation. The result was confusion regarding

how to process PC requests and more importantly how to make decisions between

permissible and impermissible modifications.

The most common PC decision model heretofore adopted by districts has actually

retained the grading system in place at the time of the enactment of the MMC

legislation. In other words, even though the intent of the MMC was to assure that

issuance of a regular high school diploma would signify mastery of high school

content expectations defining a master list of required credits (a defacto “endorsed”

diploma), most districts have selected the D- grade or 60% as the level of mastery

that would need to be demonstrated to earn required credits. But 60% of what?

Instead of reflecting proficiency on specific identified power or core standards, or a

% of the overall content expectations per credit, districts have continued to base the

minimum D- grade on a cocktail of factors contaminated by such non-proficiency

variables as attendance, behavior in the classroom, or homework (no matter who

did it or how much assistance may have been provided).

Between this resulting contamination of proficiency for all students, and the lack of

any decision rules for helping the PC determination team know the “bottom” of

their authority to modify the curriculum for students with IEPs, two paradoxical

results may have occurred. On the one hand, the intended warranty of the MMC

diploma may have been compromised, and students with IEPs may have been

improperly graduated with a regular high school diploma triggering the end of their

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IDEA entitlement to special education. On the other hand, some students with IEPs

may have been denied their opportunity to obtain a PC modification that would

otherwise have enabled them to appropriately graduate with a regular high school

diploma.

The net result is that after enumerating the above key pressure points and/or points

of ambiguity, the committee made two decisions: It appeared to be in the best

interests of both districts and students alike to conceptualize an ISD-wide PC

protocol. The committee would attempt to arrive at a consensus on the various

points, with the understanding that the members were making recommendations.

Decisions regarding implementation would be the responsibility of each constituent

district.

As a preliminary matter the committee identified the following key factors that

would require decision rules in order to process PC requests with fidelity:

A. PC process, to include timelines, forms, appeal process, and protocols for

transfer students entering with an existing PC from the district of origin, and

district of residence students taking 21f online classes via other districts

B. Identification of two basic approaches for what must be mastered to earn credit

1. Identified power/core standards at 100% mastery, or certain % of all of the

high school content expectations in the given credit area

2. Identified alternate standard for students with disabilities, below which a PC

development team may not develop a PC

C. Identification of what level of proficiency must be demonstrated on each

identified power/core standard or high school content expectation, in order to

be counted toward mastery.

1. Identified alternate level of proficiency for students with disabilities, below

which a PC development team may not develop a PC

D. What methods of assessment may be used to determine proficiency on

power/core or high school content expectations to determine, in turn, whether

mastery has occurred to level required for credit acquisition?

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III. Recommendations regarding the factors identified above:

Key Point Recommendation Rationale

Timelines Common timeline is needed from date of receipt of written request for PC: -10 school days from date of receipt of request to respond -30 school days from date of receipt of request to complete the PC process

MMC is silent on this. From a pragmatic standpoint the committee’s goal was to minimize adverse impact on the student’s progress in the curriculum, and to make the timelines easy to remember by mirroring special education evaluation timelines.

Forms 1. ActPoint or district forms for request and processing 2. Checklist for Consideration of PC Benefit

1. ISD pays for on-line access to ActPoint. 2.Part of overall data review for individualized consideration of IEP Course of Study decision. Documents OCR corrective action protocol for district to consider whether the student would benefit from a PC before determining that he/she should pursue a course of study leading to a certificate.

Mastery decision rules 1.Power/core standards 2.Default=100% mastery for all students 3.Alternate decision rule=no lower than 90% for students with IEPs

1.The power/core standards approach was selected based on the work of Marzano et.al. and Superintendent Flanagan’s May 2009 memo endorsing the use of power standards versus attempting to teach all of the high school content expectations. 2.Because the power/core standards by their very definition are deemed essential standards, the default is 100%, 3. And the alternative decision rule must remain fairly high.

Proficiency decision rules

1.Default=70% 2. Alternate decision rule=no lower than 60% for student with IEPs

1. 70% was chosen as the default proficiency based on testing out procedures under existing Revised School Code language.

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Partial credit decision rules

1. Districts should adopt decision rules allowing the awarding of partial credit. 2. Districts should have access to Electronic Learning Assessment Resource (ELAR) options to facilitate “credit recovery” on an ongoing basis (during the course of the class versus after it has ended).

This will afford the opportunity for a student to build up to full credit over a defacto extended period of time. In several complaint investigations OCR has reminded districts that the IDEA Part B age range to 21 allows for such extra time to complete regular high school graduation requirements.

Assessment options for general proficiency of power/core standards

Revised School Code provision for testing out [MCLA 380.1279b]2: 1. Performance=debate, public speaking, music, choir, PE, health (first aid), performing arts 2. Paper=journal, research, essay, analysis 3. Project=tech ed, drafting (blueprints), lab experiment, graphing 4. Presentation=PowerPoint 5. Portfolio=compilation of art, writing Traditional written assessments: 1. Unit exams 2. Tests 3. End of course Assessment is not: 1. Attendance 2. Discipline/behavior 3. Homework 4. Effort 5. Grades for participation or effort

2 Specific procedures for “testing out” referenced in the Revised School Code are bolded. The examples were compiled by the Personal Curriculum Committee.

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Protocol for transfer students entering with existing PC from the district of origin

1. If a student transfers into the district with a PC, a review period of up to 30 school days may be utilized to assess the appropriateness of the incoming PC. On or before the 30th school day, the receiving district PC development team would meet to determine whether the PC would be adopted as is or revised/rejected in compliance with the receiving district’s decision rules.

1. There are two issues with the incoming transfer IEP. First, the signature of the superintendent of the sending district is not binding on the receiving district. Second, the decision rules of the sending district may have a lower floor than those of the receiving district. A transfer PC could be immediately accepted “as is” by the parent and receiving superintendent’s signatures if the sending district has mastery and proficiency decision rules compatible with those of the receiving district (the receiving district cannot go lower that its own floor). The 30 school day timeline is borrowed from IDEA as a standard of reasonableness in becoming sufficiently familiar with the student to make decisions regarding the incoming PC.

District of residence students taking 21f online classes from nonresident sources

All district PC timelines and procedures apply.

The matriculating district makes PC decisions.

Protocol for student who is long-term suspended or expelled

All district PC timelines and procedures apply.

Disciplinary status is irrelevant to requesting or receiving a PC.

Appeal process 1. Superintendent can veto a PC denial. 2. Appeal of denial may be made to the district Board of Education. The decision of the district Board of Education is final.

1. Keeps disputes in the educational family 2. There are no MMC statutory provisions mandating an appeal process, but it is the recommendation of the committee that parents have an outlet for disagreement.

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CONCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS

I. Concluding Recommendations for Course of Study

Summer 2014 Kent ISD Implementation Activities

June July August

Disseminate Joint Final Report to local directors for input

Disseminate Joint Final Report to Superintendents’ Advisory and to KISA

Review input Inservice to local directors on the Joint Final Report

Provide copy to ISD administrators

Fall 2014 Local Implementation Activities

Course of Study

By September 30, 2014 By January 31, 2015 By June 30, 2015

Create and distribute one pager on Course of Study options at IEPT meetings where Course of Study determination will be made. See Appendix D for template.

The district will decide whether it will offer expanded options of 1.MMC diploma and diploma based on MMC plus additional district requirements, and 2. Three certificates (instead of just one), including a Certificate of Performance, Certificate of Achievement, and a Certificate of Participation

Use IEP Invitation and IEP form to document that one purpose of IEPT meeting is to determine Course of Study.

Use IEP Notice form to document Course of Study option(s) considered but not selected and rationale.

Inform parents of 6th grade students and above of proficiency based graduation requirements.

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II. Concluding Recommendations for Personal Curriculum

By September 30, 2014 By January 31, 2015 By June 30, 2015

Adopt and implement PC request timelines

Consider the possibility of a PC for all students with IEPs before placing on non-diploma track.

Audit prior non-diploma Course of Study determinations of current students if PC was not considered prior to placement on this track

Continue audit

Adopt and implement PC decision rules for mastery and proficiency

Identify assessment options for determining proficiency

Determine district protocol for issuing partial credit

Begin effectiveness audit of credit recovery strategies

Identify and implement strategies to reduce course failure/credit deficit rates.

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APPENDIX B: DATA REVIEW FOR COURSE OF STUDY

Student ____________________________________ Date of Birth ___________________________Grade _____________________

School _____________________________________ District ________________________________ Date _____________________

Data Sources Factors to be considered in the

analysis of Course of Study

Student Data List existing student data

Action Plan for Additional Data

Analysis and Implications

Student Profile - State and district-wide assessment

results - Current evaluation results

What if any implications can be drawn regarding the student’s performance in the general curriculum?

K-12 Transcript History - Courses and grades - On track to meet MMC requirements?

Attach transcript. This may have implications for ongoing review of the Course of Study decision.

Attendance/Discipline - IEP supports adequate if disability

related?

Mere absence from school is not a determinant of Course of Study

Present Level of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance - Activities of Daily Living - Work Habits - Rote vs abstract reasoning,

generalization, problem solving - State and district assessment as

compared to classroom assessment - Performance of student with disability

and typically developing peers in comparison to exiting 8th grade content expectations and end of course expectations for 9th grade credits.

How do the student’s functional skills “fit” with the regular diploma MMC requirements? How do they “fit” with the regular diploma MMC requirements as modified by a Personal Curriculum (PC), including a PC that makes as many modifications as possible within the decision rules adopted by the district (i.e., without creating an alternate curriculum)?

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Data Sources Factors to be considered in the

analysis of Course of Study

Student Data List existing student data

Action Plan for Additional Data

Analysis and Implications

Goals/Objectives including Progress Data

Accommodation History For each accommodation previously provided, identify - What student need addressed - Whether the accommodation was

aligned with the need - Resulting student performance

Are there any additional accommodations that should be considered prospectively?

Attach Accommodation History form. Review of student performance in the context of the student’s accommodation history helps the IEP team to filter out disability related input and output issues and to focus on the student’s ability to demonstrate proficiency on MMC content expectations.

Modification History Any evidence of modified or alternate curriculum - Extended GLCE’s referred to in PLAAFP

and G/O - State Assessment/Alternate

Assessment

The legislature requires that the regular high school diploma be based on the general curriculum as defined by the MMC.

EDP/Transition Plan What is the student’s postsecondary vision?

Even if the EDP/Transition Plan appears challenging, the Course of Study should support the student’s vision.

PC Have there been any prior PC requests? Did the student satisfactorily complete the PC(s)?

If suspect that not on track to meet MMC requirements and PC not previously requested, complete Checklist for PC Request

Successful completion of prior PCs is a favorable prognosticator for continued regular diploma Course of Study.

Summary Analysis: Does it appear that accommodations, in conjunction with specialized instruction and/or a Personal Curriculum provide a meaningful opportunity for the student to demonstrate sufficient mastery of the MMC to attain a regular high school diploma? If No, the team should discuss what non-diploma study options(s) are appropriate. If Yes, the team should discuss a Course of Study leading to a diploma.

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APPENDIX C: CHECKLIST FOR PC REQUEST UNDER 5(K) BASED ON RECOMMENDED DECISION RULES

Student ____________________________________ Date of Birth __________________________ Grade _____________________

School _____________________________________ District _______________________________ Date ______________________

AREA OF POSSIBLE NEED

(enter only one content credit requirement per row)

DOES THE AREA OF POSSIBLE NEED ALIGN

WITH A DISABILITY

IDENTIFIED IN THE STUDENT’S

IEP?

HIGHEST MASTERY OF CORE STANDARDS W/O

MODIFICATION (NOTE: For students with IEP goals based on extended GLCEs/HSCEs or essential elements of the common core standards and who have been assessed using MI-Access in a particular core subject, performance should be “translated” into unmodified core standard baseline.)

NUMBER OF POWER/CORE

STANDARDS THAT STUDENT LIKELY TO MASTER WITHIN A

SCHOOL YEAR IF ALTERNATE

PROFICIENCY 60% OR ABOVE

IS THE NUMBER TO THE LEFT AT LEAST 90% OF THE CORE

STANDARDS?

IS THIS NUMBER THE BASIS FOR PARTIAL

CREDIT?

WITH EXTENDED TIME (E.G. MORE THAN ONE YEAR) COULD

ADDITIONAL PARTIAL/FULL CREDIT

BE OBTAINED?

YES-Proceed with rest of chart.

NO-The student would be limited to PC options for gen ed students.

YES-Good candidate for 5(k) PC.

NO-Student at risk of not meeting allowable PC modifications. Consider partial credit/extended time options.

YES NO

YES NO

1. YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

2. YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

3. YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

4. YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES NO

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APPENDIX D: SECONDARY EDUCATION EXIT DOCUMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Documentation upon exit from secondary education (Note: A student might exit with more than one of the options listed.)

Is it a “regular high

school diploma”?

Is the documentation accepted by…

Employers? Technical Centers?

Community Colleges?

State Universities?

Private Colleges?

Military?

“MMC Plus” Diploma Student meets MMC requirements with or without PC, plus any additional district requirements

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

MMC Diploma Student meets MMC requirements, with or without PC

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Certificate of Performance 1.Student completes vocational program and worksite based learning. 2.Instructor rates performance on associated skill sets and related skills (e.g., .attendance, social skills, following rules and directions, hygiene, self-advocacy)

No Maybe Need Info Yes, except may require placement testing

Maybe (likely not) Need Info Maybe

Certificate of Academic Achievement Student demonstrates a minimum proficiency on the ACT WorkKeys in academic skills of reading for information, locating information, and applied mathematics

No Maybe Need Info Yes, except may require placement testing

Maybe (likely not) Need Info Maybe

Certificate of Participation Individualized participation and integration into the community

No Maybe Need Info No No Need Info No

Certificate of Completion (as historically issued)

No Maybe Need Info Maybe –but will require placement testing

No Need Info No

GED No Yes Yes Yes, except may require placement testing

Yes Yes Maybe

Please note that the answers in this chart are reflective of the data currently available. An answer of “maybe” indicates a lack of consensus in the schools polled

within the category or a lack of an applicable policy in the schools’ current structure.


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